Why Atheists Debate With Theists

[nailit]

It was suggested in another thread that atheists who debate/contribute to R&S are obsessive and may require therapy. I cant speak for other non-believers but I can speak for myself.
I debate/contribute to R&S for the same reasons that the politically minded contribute to news, for the same reason that right wingers will debate left wingers. I have minimal interest in politics so don't often get involved in those debates. I also don't have much knowledge of politics but I do have some knowledge of religion and in particular the Bible. I am not obsessive, I have stated many times that I have fundamentalist Christian friends and that I work with Christians but the topic of faith/belief rarely crops up in day to day life and I rarely, if ever, think about it. But if questions of faith arise, I WILL, give my viewpoint - as I do on here.
I don't believe in God or some supernatural being, I don't believe in biblical prophecy and I don't believe in miracles...and will give my reasons why when asked. When the Bible is toted as truth I will give my reasons why I don't believe that. When the Bible is held up as a moral guide book I will say why it isn't.
Some people on here seem to have an 'obsessive' interest in other sections of the site. I wouldn't say that they needed 'therapy'. We all have our own interests and mine happens to be R&S mainly because its something that I know a little about.
Hope this helps ;-)

[Theland]

There is a problem.
When atheists, or some of them, ridicule believers.
There is no learning there, just a sense of victory every time a dart hits home on its Christian target.
What happens then?
Shoulders back, chest out, "that showed 'em!"

[Mamyalynne]

Not my style Theland sorry :-)

[naomi24]

Put your chest away, mamyalynne.... I think he's talking about arrogant atheists.

[Theland]

Do you think you could discuss rather than debate?
Far friendlier I think.
Poison has a way of seeping in and it's not nice.

[jim360]

Look to your own posts, Theland. You generally start off by insulting the people whose opinions you're interested in.

[Mamyalynne]

Theland addressed me Naomi, hope it's allowed to respond.

[naomi24]

If in doubt mamyalynne, you know the procedure. Check Site Rules. I think you’re ok in this one.

[Mamyalynne]

I have no doubt, I was responding to...

//Mamya - I'll hold him under and you sit on his chest whilst we think of a new babtismal name for him.//

[naomi24]

All legit then. Good news. :o)

[Theland]

Jim - Do I really?

[Theland]

Nailit, you, "know," there is no God.
You, " know," the Bible is a book of myths.
With such incontrovertible knowledge, what do you hope to learn from debating with theists, when you know all the answers already?
I think I know the answer.
You derive such great pleasure from attacking theists and tripping them up for the least deviation from your interpretation of belief.
I repeat, what do you hope to learn?

[Theland]

Nailit - If in the defence of my belief, I criticise the inadequacies of the materialistic science accounts of the origin of the universe, the origin of life, and evolution, you never even attempt to defend the status quo of worldly science, but rather attack my beliefs, quite often in a very mocking and sarcastic tone.
If your atheistic arguments are so strong why do you never relate the evidence for them on here?

[Theland]

Also, it is quite legitimate to quote a book reference in support of an argument, then why is posting a YouTube link so criticised, when the links can depict the worlds greatest thinkers in all fields, both theism and atheismand all associated subjects?

[vetuste_ennemi]

I don't know how it happened, Theland.

You think God did it.

OK, what makes you think your God is good?

[beso]

Babtism?

Wasn't there some story about Herod wanting John the Babtist's head on a blate.

[nailit]

Theland
//Nailit, you, "know," there is no God//
I don't know that for sure, but I suspect that there isn't

//You, " know," the Bible is a book of myths//
Bang on there...


//what do you hope to learn from debating with theists, when you know all the answers already?//
Where have I said that I know all the answers? Just where on this site has ANY atheist claimed to have all the answers?

//I repeat, what do you hope to learn?//
As above ^

//you never even attempt to defend the status quo of worldly science//
Because Im not scientifically minded. I don't talk about what I don't know. I'll never debate evolution for example because I know so little about it. My rejection of the Bible is not based on my limited understanding of science.

//If your atheistic arguments are so strong why do you never relate the evidence for them on here?//
The onus isn't on me to disprove God. The onus is on YOU to prove that there IS a God.

//Also, it is quite legitimate to quote a book reference in support of an argument, then why is posting a YouTube link so criticised//
I think its because most people don't want to sit through a 2 hour lecture/documentry or whatever and people want YOUR thought on a topic, not someone elses.

Hope Ive managed to reply to you in a friendly, non sarcastic, non mocking tone ;-)

[Jordyboy9]

Personally I find these debates between nailit and Theland almost as boring as the good morning early bird posts,therefore I give them a wide berth,I don’t discuss politics or religion as I don’t know enough about them,I would rather discuss some moderators who I think abuse their position on here,but I am bound by Site Rules not to do so.

[Theland]

Nailit - God can not be proven or disproven.
However, look around you, at the Creation in which you live.
The Creation requires a Creator, yes?
So there. Proof of God.

[Atheist]

Theland. /Nailit - God can not be proven or disproven.
However, look around you, at the Creation in which you live.
The Creation requires a Creator, yes?
So there. Proof of God/

You've said God can not be proven or disproven. Then you've said that existence requires a creator and that that proves that god exists. But you've just said that god cannot be disproven. I hate to say it, but you are an idiot. You are not cleverer than our finest scientists, you are not cleverer than our finest philosophers, you are far below their intellectual level. Accept your mediocrity, as I have done. You're not the genius you think you are.

[naomi24]

Theland, I would be interested in your response to VE's question at 02:30 Mon.